Nutating disc gas compressor or motor



April 18, 1961 N. MATZ NUTATING DISC GAS COMPRESSOR OR MOTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NORMAN MATZ A TTORNEYS April 18, 1961 N. MATZ 2,980,318

NUTATING DISC GAS COMPRESSOR OR MOTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. NO RM A N MAT z qaw a ATTORNEYS April 18, 1961 N. MATZ 2,980,318

NUTATING DISC GAS COMPRESSOR OR MOTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ms E E VOL, (disralac'menk) INVENTOR.

NORMAN MATZ w @7344; Zgi

ITORNEYS April 18, 1961 N. MATZ 2,980,318

NUTATING DISC GAS COMPRESSOR OR MOTOR File d Dec. 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INLET INTERMEDIATE EXHAUST PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE INVENTOR.

NORMAN MATZ ATTORNEYS April 18, 1961 N. MATZ 2, 80, 8

NUTATING DISC GAS COMPRESSOR OR MOTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 UPPER SEAL LINE UPPER SEAL LINE AT 240 FROM INLET AT 330 FROM INLET United States NUTATING DISC GAS CGMPRESSOR 9R MOTGR Norman Matz, Cleveland Heights, Ghio, assignor to t or Thompson Rama Wooldriage Ina, a corps hio Filed Dec. 9, 1 957, Ser. No. 761,486 16 Claims. (Cl. 23 314S) The present invention relates to an improved gas compressor or motor. More specifically, the invention relates to a compressor or motor having a volute-shaped chamber with a volute-shaped nutating plate located therein to be driven by expanding gas, if operated as a motor, or

to compress gas with the plate being mechanically driven,

I gas.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved gas operated motor utilizing a volute-shaped chamber with a spiral-shaped nutating plate therein, wherein the chamber shape is designed in accordance with the specific heat of the gas to be used in operating the motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas operated motor having a volute-shaped chamber with a spiral-shaped mutating plate therein with the chamber designed for adiabatic ewansion of the gas between the parameters of the inlet pressure of the gas and the discharge pressure. A

A still further object of the invention is to provide a volute-shaped nutating disc and chamber in accordance with the above objectives which is operable as either a gas driven motor or a gas compressor.

A feature of the invention is to provide a mechanism which may be used as a motor or a compressor and which employs a mutating. disc within a chamber wherein the chamber coacts with the disc to divide the. area of the disc into zones of different pressure with three separate distinct pressure zones being formed during a portion of. the movement of the disc.

Other objects. and advantages will become more apparent with the teachings of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments thereof, in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a nutating disc motor or compressor constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is avertical sectional view taken along line II--II of Figure I, and illustrating the interior construction of the motor or compressor;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line HI- III of Figure l, and illustrating the locations of the inletpassageways, and with the disc removed;

Figure 4 is. a plan view of the nutating disc or plate;

Figure 5 is a plan view taken from the bottom of the mechanism of Figure 1;.

Figure 6 is a portrayal by a graph of the relationship between gases having different specific heats plotted against pressure and volume;

Figure? is a graph wherein the expansion of a gas Patented Apr. 13, 1 553 to difierent discharge pressures is illustrated and is plotted against degree of improvement and pressure ratio;

Figure 8' isa showing in legend of the shading used in Figures 9-, 10, 11 and 12 to indicate the dilferent pressure areas;

Figures 9a, 10a, 11a, and 12a are plan views of the nutating disc taken' from the top of the disc and with shading to show the different pressure areas in successive positions of the disc;

Figures 95, 10b, 11b, and 12b are schematic perspective illustrations of the mutating disc showing its successive positions corresponding to positions of the disc in plan vew in Figures 9a, 10a, 11a, and 12a; and

Figures 90, 10c, 11c, and 12c are plan views of the mutating disc. taken from the bottom of the disc and shaded to illustrate the pressure zones for successive positions of the disc with the figures corresponding to the illustrations of Figures 9 through 12 designated a and b.

As illustrated in Figures 1 through 5, the mechanism will be described as utilized as a motor. It will be under stood that. the mechanism may also be utilized as a compressor, as will later be described, and also that various features of the invention may be used in arrangements other than the preferred embodiment illustrated, which is shown for purposes of describing and teaching the principles of. the invention, and not by- Way of. limitation.-

The motor is illustrated having a housing 10 formed with an upper section 12 and a lower section 14. Each of the sections is provided with an annular flange, and

be also provided between the flanges to prevent the leakage of gases. I

Within the housing '16, isv formed a curved, preferably volute shaped, motor chamber 20. The outer spiral wall 22. of the motor chamber is spiral shaped in plan view, as illustrated in Figure l, and is curved in a vertical di-' rection, as illustrated in Figure 2, with the curvature being swung from an arc aboutthe radial center 28 of the chamber.

The upper surface 26 of the chamber is a curved tapered surface which increases in diameter about the axial center 28 of the motor. The lower surface 30 ofthe motor chamber 20 is likewise a curved tapered surface, withthe two surfaces- 26 and 30 tapering toward each other toward the center of the motor. I

Within the motor chamber 20 is. located a spirallyshaped nutating plate 32 which is shown in plan in Figure 4 as removed from the motor chamber.

The plate 32 has a width which increases as the width of the chamber 20 to extend across the chamber and divide it so as to separae the lower and upper portions of the chamber; The plate 32 is mounted within'the chamber so as to be driven in a wobbling or mutating motion as an expansible gas is admitted to the motor chamber 20, alternately above and below the plate or disc 32.

For supporting the spirally-shaped wobble ,plateSZ,

it is mounted on its center on a sphere 34 which is held in a socket 36 in the centrallower portion of the cham:

" positionsg f opening 42 which; is sealed from the chanrberlflto pre:

vent the escape of gas from the chamber by the contact between theplate supporting sphere 34 and the fragmentary. spheiical-rbearingsurface 38." Secured to the supporting sphere 34 is a driving crank pin 43 which 'rotates as theplate wobbles within the motor chamber 20. IFor receiving driving power from the plate, the'pin V proifi ts into a 'slot 44'within a crank arm 46 attached to a driven7shaft48. In the event-the mechanism-is; to.

beiused as a compressor, the shaft 48 is-driven by a drive the disc orplate-32 for'compressinggas. V r The housing is provided. with an annular hollo V boss 5 2 providing,a ;gas inlet passage 50 .Whichlea'ds to an'open ing 54 communicating with the inlet 64 'intothe chamber at .thesrnall end thereof. .Thegas is exhausted V from the large end of the chamber through an exhaust B i I The'passage of gas through theinotor drives the nutat ing plate,. 32. V, The motor chamberjtl formed within the/housing 10 meets the plate 32 in radial line contact.

.. As illustra ed by the legend. of Figure 8, the three pres- Y a sure zones willbe indicated bydifferent shading. QThe' inlet pressure will, o'fjcourse, beithe highest-pressure,

exhaustfcdnditions into :the surrounding air. The de-v sicri'ption of 'Figures8 through 12 assumes that the apparatus will be operated as afmotor .-b.ut it will readily heseenfthat the digision intozones of difierent pressure] will;occuiup bperation as a compressor as well. I

{In the series jot Eigures9 through 12, thegFiguresj .a{ j

7. illustrate the top snriace 60 [oi thenutating plate 32,

V 'the' shaded areas. indicate the pressures tdwhich' the-surface areas; are exposed. The complete disc is il- I lustrated in Figs) a? land. ,b having" thefsupporting. jspherical b all 34 the central driving p'in 4 3i and with cert'ain 'parts slightly enlarged v over the other ,views of thesdrawings. The various positions ofth eline c ontact 7 between the streamer the plate; and, the rriotor chamber are'shown for different progressive positionsof .thep late. In Figures 9, theplatejs'shown 'with thecontactline positioned '60; from -the'inlet which is illustrated-at-GA, this beingthe'location-where'gas enters tlieniotor-cham ber. InfFigure "10, th'e plate 32 has movedjwith a nutats ing motion to a position where the line seal is lSOf'from theinlet; es in dicated by ,the caption" on the drawing. r Each drawing is indicated by a'captionas to its-position.

In Figures '11; the disc is moved to 'wherethe sealline is '2'40 froni the inlet and in Figures; 12. theseal use is 330 from thejnlet.

ieTheFigures, b? ofth e series (Sf-Figures 9 through are schematicillustrations.ofgtheplate 32inperspective, 65'

'- tend beyondithe 360". point; 3} a .The three .rotatingj zones,'each of which" contain gas at a difierent pressure, arev formed-'bythe plate; in thehons show it tiltsor r nt atesand the seal, line changes been from the bottom. to illustratethe;hottoxn surare exposed different positionsgof the plate,

e 1 exhaust pressure.

motor',;and as it rotatesthe .pin :43 .will berrotated to a 4 7 7 V q the plate, it is exposed ,to; three difierent pressure zones, i.e., the inlet pressure zone, the intermediate pressure zone, and the exhaust pressurev zone. At that position of the plate 32, as illustrated in Figure 9c, the seal line or contact line for the bottom surface 62' of the plate is shown by the'dotted line 68, andisdiametricallyopposite or7180 spaced from the seal line 66 at the top of theplate. 1 This divides the lower surfaceintjotwo 'zones, the, inletipressure zone and the exhaust'pressure zone.

alt, will be noted that only whenthe contact line extends across the two adjacent areas" of the plate 32, s'uch as occurs when 'contactline '66 engages both the areas '35 and 37, as illustrated in Figures9 a-and b, will an intermediate pressure zone 'bei'present. As will be seen this occurs because the large end ofthe plate extends beyond the inlet 64 i.e., the outlet port is spa'ced circumferentially beyond the'inlet so that the lines of contact 66 can extend therebetween and separate; the ports.

soon as the contact line shifts in location with 'move- -ment .oftheplate 32, so that it extends across onlyone area' of the plate, therewill' be only aninletjpressure area and. anexhaust pressure area; j i

, As illustrated in Figures 10;; and 10]; when thenutating plate 321 135 moved to whe'rethefuppe'r sealjine 68 is. about 150 "from the inlet, the upper'surface .69 is exposed to two pressure zones, the inletpressurea'nd the As illustrated l Qa, .the sealline 70 on the lowersurface 6 2 of the plate againj divides the'lower surface'into two different pressure zones. I j .FiguresTlla and 11b illustrate the pressure 1 zones formed within the housing of the motor'when the notatingplate. 32 has moved to where the upper seal line 72 .is at 249' from the' inlet 64. Atlthis position of the A h J h .35.

'theinternaediate pressure will be' lower and theexhaust 7 pressure will besubstantially at atmospheric tot-normal plate 3 2 the seal 1ine 74 between the lower surface 62 of the plate andthe motor chamber extends across. areas 75 and 76whioh are adjacent each othelij'lherefore, the

1 lower'surface is "exposed to three pressurezones.

I When the nutating disc 32 moves still furthersothat the upper seal line .78,is 330..frorn the inlet164, the

' upper seal line .78'would appear as showninQFigures lZaand 12b, and the lower seal line 80 will bediametri 'cally opposite, in the location shown in .Figure a 120.

7 Thus, in following Figures 9 through, l2thje progression of the pressure areas along the plate 32 willfbe observed, and 'itwill be readily seen how this progression ofpr essureareas will exert ajnutatingfforce' on the. plate 32 to drive it. The .nutating monom r. the .plate of course;

rotates the pin 43 to drive the 'shaft 4}} in, rotation.v It

will also be recognized that since the plate area widens,

-that the chamber. for the gas. becomes larger.

ln' summary of the operation of he disc, as the disc,

1 inoves in the housing, two radial line contacts are made between the disc or plate in the housing which areilSOf apartl. These lines of contact continuously move around withjhe clrank as'the disc. nutates and divide the housing V 7 'face 62i-and-fthe pressurezon slo'whichdifierentareas g 1' F u s ja i r h u ins p te 1 po d so that the seal line, illustratedat .66, extends acr'ossjthe,

into pressurezones. 1 In order to 'hav'efla'n' expanding cycle which'jis a special feature of the present motor, the voluted plate must separate from; the sphere .a't'itsfinner: edge and continue around for something beyond t'nefirst 360 of thelplater The' amount that e the diaphragm extends is determined by the amount of expansion desired. ''The web-which extends from the upper-to the'lon'rreai surfaeeoflthe, housing separates theparts otthej plate which exten'dheyond each other and, which inahe the plate exfrom inlet, to"discharge. iThe first 'zone isopn to finlet and, inlet pressure. exists. in this zone. The second 'zone areas 35 and ,37. on' the -upp'erQsurface of1-the plate '32, I

" these areas-beingiappositeeachlother,ior..extending .pas't' e sl tsi s 'extends'frorn the first contact line .betweentheiplate and teed -a se atea jas atreitis motori'ch'amher toithe same1inefof Contact butl'yvhichi' Pressure in thisintermediate or second zone. is equal to'inlet' pressure when the zone is first formed, but decreases as the. crank rotates and the volume increases with movement of the contact lines. This is the expanding part of the cycle.

The third zone is always open to exhaust and thevolme in this zone continually decreases, forcing the. expended gases out of. the motor. Gases enter the motor in the first zone, expand in the second: zone, and are discharged from the third zone.

Thus, adiabatic expansion occurs in the second or intermediate pressure zone. The shape. of the disc or plate is plotted and formedso that ideal expansion; can be-a'chieved for the type of gas used thus obtaining 011 timum' performance; Furthermore} the amountof expansion can be controlled by the length: of overlap between theinner and outer portions of the spiral plate.

The foregoing has-presented a' description of the action of the gases as they move through the chamber, and act on the nutating disc. The overall operation of the apparatus will now be described.

In operation as a motor, gas under pressure will be delivered to an intake passageway 58, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5. The passageway is formed in boss 52, which is integral with the housing 10, and which tapers toa small inlet passageway 54 leading to a chamber 56 to supply pressurized gas to both the upper and lower side of the plate 32.

As the gas fiows above and below the plate with the wobbling motion thereof, the gas will expand adiabatically along the increasing width of the volute shaped chamber 24 The expanding gas is discharged through a tangential discharge passageway 58, which communicates with the large end of the chamber 20.

If the motor is to be used as a compressor, gas to be compressed is admitted through the passageway 58 and compressed by wobbling motion of the plate 32 to be discharged through the passageway 50. For use either as a motor or a compressor, the passageways are connected to suitable gas supply and delivery lines.

With reference to Figure 6, the shape of the volute motor chamber 20 is constructed in accordance with the specific heat of the gas used. With K indicating the specific heat of a gas, the graph illustrates two gases plotted against pressure and volume. The lower curve is for air with K equaling 1.4. The upper curve indicates the pressure-volume curve for another gas wherein K=l.3. The chart indicates how the chamber will be designed for ideal adiabatic expansion for the particular gases used.

In the chart of Figure 7, the degree of improvement is plotted against pressure ratio, this indicates the increased amount of work obtained from the gas. As will be indicated from the graph, the amount of work obtained increases with increased pressure differential between inlet and exhaust pressure. The graph is plotted with several curves, with the uppermost curve indicating total expansion of the gas, and with the lower curve indicating limited expansion. In the curve, the medium used was air with K=1.4, although similar curves would be required for other gases. In plotting the curve, the following values were used.

P =inlet pressure (lb/ft. abs.)

P =exhaust pressure (lb/ft. abs.)

V =volume after expansion (ft?) V =volume before expansion (ft?) W :added work (ft.-lb.)

W =work without expansion (ft-lb.)

K=ratio of specific heats In operation of the mechanism as a motor, pressurized ing: movement. to rotate? the driving; pin 43, which drives the crankv arm 46* torotate the; shaft. 48.v The gas. ex: pands adiabatically along the. volute shaped chamber 20 to be discharged out through. the tangential discharge passageway 58. 7

If the mechanism is to be. operated. as. a compressor, gas. to. be compressed: is fed inzthrough the. passageway 53, andthewobbling; or nutating platefiz is. driven inits motion by,- driving the. shaft 48, which causes the crank arm 4fi-torrotate the drivepinAS; The gas is compressed along, the volute chamber 20, and is. discharged through the passageway 50.

Thus in will be seen that I have; provided an improved mechanism maybe used as either a motor or compressor which meets the objectives, and advantages hereinbefore set forth. The mechanism is constructed to. obtain added work when: used as. a motor, by allowing: adiabatic, expansionofthe gas. The chamber is designed; for thepressure ratios of the specificv gas used in accordance with the specific heat thereof. The invention, in the form shown, or in other forms, which the inventive principles may take, finds. numerous advantageous. operations wherein improvedefliciency and effective use may be utilized. v

I have, in the drawings and specification, presented a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of my invention, and it is to beunderstoodthat I do not intend to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and. methods falling within the scope of the principles. taught by my invention.

I. claim as my invention:

1'. An expansible gas driven motor comprising in combination a curved volute-shaped motor chamber for re.- ceiving expanding gas shaped to expand in cross-section as a function of the. specific heat of the gas to be. used for adiabatic expansion of the'gas, a flatspiral-shaped plate positioned within said. chamber and having a width to extend across the chamber and to separate upper and lower sections of the chamber, said chamber having an upper curved tapered surface for rolling line contact. with the plate and having a lower tapered curved surface for rolling line contact with the plate, said plate moving with a wobbling nutating motion when driven by expansible gas, a gas inlet passageway connected to the small end of said chamber .for communication both above and below said plate, a tangentially extending gas exhaust passageway connected to the large end. of the chamber for the exhaust of gas from both above and below said plate, a central support for said plate maintaining it in position during wobbling motion, and a drive member connected to the plate to move with a nutating motion for deriving power from the plate.

2. A power driven gas compressor comprising a curved volute shaped compressor chamber having internal spirally shaped walls to form a chamber of decreasing width and having a truncated conically shaped upper surface and a similar truncated conically shaped lower surface, a spirally shaped fiat plate substantially the width. of the chamber and located within the chamberfor' rolling engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the chamber, a compressed gas discharge passageway leading from the small end of said chamber, an inlet g'as pas sageway leading'tangentially into the large end of. said chamber, and means connected to said plate for driving it in a wobbling nutating motion for compressing: the gas within the chamber and forcing it from the large end to the small end on both surfaces of the plate.

3. A motor driven by an expansible gas comprising a volute-shaped motor chamber having'outwardly tapered curved upper and lower surfaces and having a small end and a large end, an inlet passageway at the small end of the chamber for receiving an expansible gas, an exhaust passageway at the .large end of the chamber for the discharge of the gas after it has. expanded, a

int plats shaped to fit as chamberand being the width of' theichamber and adapted to be located within the antennae mat w aiwbbbling" Killing fi against the tapered surfacesa's vgas'expands within the chamben and means secured to the plate for transmitting powerjromthe plate asit inoves.

:- motor to -be drivenlb substantial lengthof thechamber asja function ofthe specific 'hea t of said predetermined -gas'-to "be" userl in "the; chamber landfhavingia small end and'alarg'e end, anintake p ssa way at 'thesniallf end for the intake of a gas, an exhaust passageway at thelar'ge'end'of the chamber, for the' discharge of the gas after it has ex-' pandedQa curved fiat plate beingthe width of the chamftaper'e'd st nfaces as gas xpands within the'chamber,and'

means'secured to' the'plate re: transmittingfirivingpower 'lfrpm theplateasgitmoves.-1

curved volpte-shaped motor chamber havingfla"configura-. tign' -with a taperedcurved upper and lower'surface and 7 incr'easinginwidth to' 'obtain an increasing cross sectional areaiyalong chamber -fo'r' adiabatic expansion or I the gasto be used as an operating? medium and having a 'smallfend'and a large lendfin inlet passageway at the a "small end of theichamb er forire'ceiving an expansible gas, an exhaust passageway at thelarge end of the chamber 7 as; the discharge of the ga's' 'afterit has expanded, a

flat plate shaped tof'fit the chamber, and being the width 7 1 'of the chamberyand adapted to be located within the ngtjd ffiaifiber tq'nio've'wime wobbling rollingmohon against the tapered surfaces as gas-i expands within the chamber, and means-secured to theplate for transmitting driving power from the plateas'it movesr."

6. A motor driven by 5 an expansible gas comprising 7 "a, volute 'mo'tofrr chamber' having outwardly tapered Qcurved uppen'and lower surfa'ce's and havmg' a small end and a :large' end, an "inletjpassagewayflat the. small end'of the volu'te-tor receivingan 'expansiblefgas;;an

'jexhaust'pass agewayat the large endiof the voluterfor vthe discharge or the-gasafter it has" expanded, 'a fiatt 'plate'shaped-to fit the'chamber and bemg thewidth of thefchamberfandadapted to be located within the hiotor'charnber' to' rn0ve with; a wobbling rolling motion j against {the' tapered surfaces was gas-expands with n th chamber; and 'means secured'to the'plate f ortransmittmg' driving-power from the plate as, it moves;

7 mechanism tor usem an englne or afl'c'ompressor comprising acurved volute shaped closed chamber-havsesame p p g p 7 a an: expansible predeter V t-mlned gas comprisinga curved sha ea'cnamber having fixedjrtapered, curved upper and lower vsurfacesLand" fixed sides increasing in width andcross sectional 'area for a charge' ot the"gas after it has eiqiani'led','Ia' flat plate shaped to'fit the chamber and beingthe width of the chamber and located within the motor chamber'to move with QaWQbbiing rolling motion against the tapered sur faces as gas expands within the chamber; s'aidinlet and exhaust passageways displaced 'alo'ng fsaid vdlu'te shaped chamber 'a 'sufiicient distance sojthatthey willalways be'separated by the plate. making'line contact with said tapered upper' and lower surfaces, and meansr secured to the plate for transmitting driving powerfroni the plate 92A motor driven by expansible gas comprising a;closedspiral motor chambe'radapted to 'receive a pressurized operating gas, a movable flat plate housed within the chamber to move with the nutating motion, driving means secured :to the plate 'for'deriving rotary' mo- 'ber andadaptedtq beloca te'd:withinithe motor chamber Ito move with a'wobbIing 'rouing'moti n against the tion, from v the f nutating plate, comically-shaped surfaces withinl'vthe chamber forkmeeting .theplate with, sealing line engagement with movement of the plate, said plate beingspirally'curved 'in shape and with one end extending past the other end to exten'd fori more'than, 360

' within the' chamb'er, a gasfinlet; port leadingto the chamber at pne end of the plate, and a gas exhaust port a leading from the chamber; at he: other end of the plate. *10. A- motor driven by aniexpansible gas compris- 'ing" a volute motor chamber having outwardly tapered curved upper and lower'surfaces and having a small end 7 and'a large end, an inlet passageway atthe small: end of the volutefor receivinganexpansible gas, an exhaust passageway at thelarge end'ot the volute for the discharge of gas after it expands the volute chamber-extending a distance greater than 360 sovthat, said'small end lies radially opposite ofisaid'large .end, a flat nutating plateshaped torfit within thetchamberand having a large 7 end "which extends past .a' small end so {that the plate surfaceaextends fora circumferential distance more than 360, a gas inlet into theLsmallend of the'volute motor chambe r and a gas exhaust port leading from .thelarge end of the volut'e'chambe'r wherebythe'plate will move with ainutating motion. and create a first inlet pressure zone, a se'condintermediate pressure zone, and an exhaust pressure z'onewith theinlet pressure zone communicating with the inlet port and the exhaust pressure zone communicating with the exhaust port, said mtermediate pressure zone continually increasing in size 7 chamber and movable by'pressureof 'thegas, means to deliver gas to; one end of thej'chamberalternatelyfabove and'below'the plate, said'chamberland plate being spiral ing conically; tapered curv ed'upper and lower surfaces" 'alnd'havingazsmall end andalarge end,'a'spiral plate havingfuninterrupted substantially fiat surfaces and being a the width of the'chamber'and located within 'the chamher for nutating motion-to progressively change the cross a "sectional" area between the chamber and'the plate, -a;first gas conducting passageway communicating;with the small end of" the chamber both abovefland below tne surface of the'plate aisecond gas conducting-passage? away leadingtangentiallyw into the large end of the chama 1 her andfcommunicating with space above and;,ibelow the plate, ?-and rotary power'transmission, meansconnected Z r 'to the plateto perniit power. transmission for; driving the 1 plate or -for drivingjthe transmission'means; from the plateasjthe mech'anism lis respectivelyflused ,as a coma press'or or a motor. j

- 8 -A motor driven by an expansible ga s comprising a gvolute motorj; chamber having outwardly-f tapeEdJ eui vedcupper, and lower surfaces and having a; small end and -lar'ge endfan'inlet passageway atthe small end shaped, so that as1the chamberwvolume increases with movement of said' plate increasing areas-ofsaid surfaces will be exposed; to "said gas for substantially the full length of the chamber, and a discharge passageway leading from the other end of the chamber for the discharge of expanded gas.

" 12. A'motor driven by an expansible gas comprising a closed motor chamber adapted; to are'ceive la pressurized operating gas, a movablefnutating plate within the chamher having fiat upper and lower surfacesjfor engagement along ,a radial line withthe' chamber and having a first end and a second end extending radially outside of the *firstend and circumferentially past thefirstjend,;a'vert tical'web extending through the, chamber axially and exoffthejyolute for receiving. an expansible gas, an exhaust passase ivayatzthe la sl nd efft e l te gt the distending in a curved plane circumferentially and between said first and second end'whereby the endsoffthe plate that extend past each otherextend to "difi erent'chambers of different gas pressures -separated by said web',a gas inlet port leading into; said "chamber at one side of said web, gas texliaustlport leading from the chamber at hsrsflls r t ea ;ee ifrbs; .;;1

13. A motor driven by an expansible gas comprising a spirally shaped motor chamber adapted to receive a pressurized gas and extending for more than 360, a spirally shaped fiat plate movable within the chamber, said chamber having curved upper and lower walls tapered inwardly toward the center, said plate meeting the walls in substantially radial line contact and in a range of positions engaging the chamber at two locations to divide the chamber into a first pressure zone for operation at a first pressure, a second pressure zone between said two locations for operation at a second pressure lower than said first pressure, and a third pressure zone for operation at an exhaust pressure lower than said first and second pressures, means for receiving power from the motion of said movable plate, an inlet port communicating with said first zone, and an exhaust port leading from said third zone.

14. A motor driven by an expansible gas comprising a closed spirally shaped motor chamber adapted to receive a pressurized operating gas, a movable spirally shaped nutating plate within the chamber having fiat upper and lower surfaces for engagement along radial lines within the chamber and having a first end and a second end extending past the first end with the plate extending for more than 360, a gas inlet port leading into said chamber at the first end of said plate, and a gas exhaust port leading from the chamber at the second end of the plate, sadi gas exhaust port positioned circumferentially offset from said gas inlet port so that the plate may form radial lines of contact with the chamber across both said first end and said second end with both of said lines of contact being between said inlet port and said outlet port to form an area of the plate isolated from both said inlet and said outlet ports.

15. A compressor for compressing gases comprising a curved compressor chamber having curved outer and inner walls defining the sides of the chamber with said walls decreasing in radius to form a spiral shaped chamber and to decrease the chamber width from a large inlet end to a compressed gas smaller outlet end and having an upper and lower tapered curved surface, an inlet passageway communicating with the large end of the chambeer for the intake of gas to be compressed, a discharge passageway communicating with the small end of the chamber for delivering compressed gas from the compressor, a curved flat plate shaped the width of the cham ber and adapted to move with a wobbling nutating motion to compress gas, and means secured to the plate for driving it in its motion to operate the compressor.

16. A motor driven by an expansible gas comprising a substantially flat surfaced plate to be exposed to an expansible gas and driven in a nutating motion, means defining a gas chamber enclosing said plate for nutating motion therein so that the plate will engage the inner surface of the chamber in line contact forming separated chambers at each side of said line of engagement, means connected to the plate for transmitting the motion of the plate to obtain a usable power, inlet means opening into the chamber for transmitting gas to said chamber, and exhaust means opening from the chamber for exhausting gas from said chamber, said plate having one end extending past the other circumferentially with said inlet and exhaust means at the plate ends so that the plate will have line engagement with the chamber at two locations on the same surface of the plateisolating a flat surface area of said plate from said inlet and said exhaust means between said inlet and said exhaust means when the gas is passing from the inlet to the exhaust means so that a movable surface area of the plate is exposed to confined gas so that the energy of the confined gas is utilized and the plate is driven.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 442,401 Shaw Dec. 9, 1890 2,033,577 Hunter Mar. 10, 1936 2,353,373 Thompson July 11, 1944 2,590,751 Byram et a1 Mar. 25, 1952 2,788,747 Hunter Apr. 16, 1957 2,887,059 Cornelius May 19, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,227 Great Briain of 1911 16,819 Great Britain of 1902 

